THE PRODUCTS OF CLAY AND FIRE 



pitcher is that of " batting" the piece of clay he is r- 

 use for filling one section of the mold. He does this 

 either with a large mallet, or with an implement very 

 like a rolling-pin, flattening the clay to the thickness 

 required for placing in the mold. For this flattening 

 by mallet or roller the clay is laid upon a block of 

 plaster of Paris and the piece of clay so flattened is 

 known as the "bat." The presser places this bat 

 in the mold, with the surface that has come in con- 

 tact with the batter laid downward in the mold, and 

 presses it firmly so that it fills every surface and crevice 

 completely. The other half of the mold is treated 

 in the same way, and the two are then joined, and 

 fastened together with a strap passing around them. 

 At the junction of the two sections in the mold, the work- 

 man lays long narrow rolls of clay, working them with 

 a sponge and with his fingers until the two sections 

 are united firmly and the seam is entirely obliterated. 



Next, a bat of the proper size and thickness is made 

 and pressed into the bottom mold, this being jointed 

 to the two upper half -molds, and the seams effaced, 

 thus completing the pitcher. The mold is then placed 

 in a drying-stove, where the clay hardens and shrinks 

 so that it may be removed from its plaster case with- 

 out difficulty or danger of breaking. 



Meanwhile, another workman, or possibly the same 

 presser, has made the handle for the pitcher by put- 

 ting a lump of clay of the right size in one-half of the 

 handle mold, and pressing the other half down upon 

 it until all the superfluous clay is expressed. This is 

 also placed in the drying-oven for a short time. 



[253] 



